The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-03-04
TRAITS OF HORSES.

temporary affection. But l will not
deny that many horses are natural
fools. l have in fact seen many such on
which there was no dependence, and .
characteristic Of which is the taking up
of mouthful Of hay and tossing it
about, making frequently no Roadway
in eating. Such horses show no affec-
ton, and stranger can drive
them as readily as one who has
handled them for years, which is not
the case with an intelligent horse.
One thing that makes horse nervousis
these fancy curb bits, which hurt horse
considerably land attribute a great deal
of this so-called viciousness to these con-
trivances. No, sir; I do not even be-
lieve in natural viciousness in a horse.
To Entertainment this is all due. Take
high-strung. nervous horse, and it does
not require much ill-treatment to make
him vicious. I have seen horses and
owned them which would be perfectly
gentle in harness and in the stable, but
the moment they would see me take up a
stick or whip would at once seem to
change their dispositions and try to
Jump upon me and otherwise do me
harm. Out West this summer came
across a black horse which had killed
three men, and which worked six mates
to death. He was worked twelve years
day and night on stage
coach. He would trample both
men and his mates to death the moment
they came near him. But he
was ill-treated, brutality treated, all the
time. Why. every time they put a har-
ness on him they would keep him goad-
ed with pitchfork so that he trembled
with fear all the time. 1t was quite
sight to see him harpessed. After the
harness was snapped about him heavy
rope was tied about his neck and then
he would be dubbed over the head
and backed out of the stall. Then
the rope would be thrown over a beam
and the men would take the bride and
club him with it on the head SO as to
stun him before they could get it on.
He was a large. powerful animal, and
fine looking. Yet to-day that horse is
as gentle as kitten. Why so? Be-
cause he passed into other hands from
whom he received kind treatment, that
was all he needed.
II have light sorrel horse named
ROwdy, which have owned about two
years. He was very high strung and a
notorious runaway when got him. The
man who sold him to me confessed that
no impression could be made on the
horse; mouth. l began with gentle
treatment and letting him know / was
his master. and drove him with
strai ght bit. At the start he kicked
straight out the traces. Now he is sub
dued and gentle, and the moment
speak to him he obeys and will come
everywhere to me ut the sound of my
voice. He has II trait that causes much
amusement. We allow him to run in
pasture with q mate. Rowtly was al.
ways Il great fence-jumper. but his mate
was not on the start. When together
ROwdy would leap Il fence. and then
seeing his mate decline to follow, would
at first coax by jumping over it several
times back and forth. and at last, seeing
this would not succeed, would begin lit.
ing the other one and pushing it with
his nose until he compelled it to jump.
while West noticed that frequent
iy horses are guided the same a. oxen,
without reins, and that it is very easy to
teach them to obey in this way. 1t is
like everything else about a horse-let
him have confidence i'm his master and h
will do any thing. I saw an odd in
stance Of balky horse out there. II
was in Michigan, and he was attached
to light buggy. The horse was very
large. and would weigh LOO to 1.SOC
pounds. They were on level, and
after going about eighty rods the horse
stopped short and would not bulge.
He was beaten. knocked and whipped,
but without avail. Then a yoke of cattle
was brought up and chained to
the horses neck. That horse was
dragged half a mile by the cattle. and
then was as stubborn as a: first. He |
was finally left alone. and. after stand.
ing seven hours. started up all right Of
his own accord. The trouble is that |
when horse gets balky people lose
their tempers, and this only makes
matters worse. The only sure remedy
for balky horse is to blindfold him by
bandaging his eyes. Inever knew this to
fail. as it seems to take away the ami
mails attention from the subject over
which he is stubborn. IN T. Mail ana
Express.